[637488]

What brand, size and style of hook do you use for chunking? I started using owner mutu circle hooks last year, but I am not sure that I am completely satisfied with them. I lost a nice yellow at the boat last fall due to a pulled hook, which has never happend to me before with non-circle hooks.

 

[mikegarone]

I am no expert but I use gami live bait 4x and have not had problems. I am going to try and use circles when I drop down to light leader, because I lost a few fish last year due the fish chafing my leader.

 

[MakoMike]

mikegarone wrote:
I am no expert but I use gami live bait 4x and have not had problems. I am going to try and use circles when I drop down to light leader, because I lost a few fish last year due the fish chafing my leader.

I use the same hooks, and when we go to light leaders I fish bombs big enough to fit over the swivel (small spro swivel).

 

[jammzoot]

Hey Mike - can you please explain the tuna bomb. How it works, what it looks like, do you make your self? Thanks.

 

[06405]

i use Mustad Circle Hooks 3996OD 11/0, 12/0, and 13/0. Awesome hooks.

 

[MakoMike]

jammzoot wrote:
Hey Mike - can you please explain the tuna bomb. How it works, what it looks like, do you make your self? Thanks.

I make my own out of a piece of plastic tubing (we call it brake line tubing but I'm not sure that's what it really is). I lay a piece about 12 inches long in the sun with somethin like a dowel on the inside so it straightens out and then tape a ten ounce sinker to one end. The line goes through the tubing with the sinker on the rod side, so when a fish is hooked and the contraption goes overboard the tubing slides down the line and the tubing comes to rest up against the hook in the tuna's mouth.

 

[Frigate]

Here's a tuna bomb Mike is talking about, made by Tightlines Tackle.

 

[fishon2407]

I don't get it.What's the tuna bomb supposed to do?

 

[DaveB]

fishon2407 wrote:
I don't get it.What's the tuna bomb supposed to do?

It chafe protection to keep the tuna's teeth from wearing though the line. I don't think you need it with circle hooks, they keep the line outside the mouth so the teeth aren't an issue.

 

[jammzoot]

Nice - thanks for the replies gents. It looks like it would be very useful when using light line on a big fish. I could also see it being more of a pain in the arse in some instances. Might try it out.

 

[Frigate]

In the picture the left end is toward the hook and the right end with the rubber band is toward the rod. The bomb is placed up the line and away from the bait. When you come tight on the fish the rubber band breaks and the bomb slides down the line, over the swivel and leader to the hook. The tuna will then be chewing on the hard plastic of the bomb and not your leader.

 

[MakoMike]

DaveB wrote:
I don't think you need it with circle hooks, they keep the line outside the mouth so the teeth aren't an issue.



Even with circle hooks, depending on the direction you pulling the line can and does wind up in the fish's mouth.

 

[JMetaxas]

Frigate: Do you use those Tuna Bombs for Yellowfin chunking or for GFT?

I was thinking about trying them for regular old Canyon yellowfin especially when we downside the leader to 50lbs test or less.

John

 

[Frigate]

John,

Both, I've had different ones in the past but I felt the tubes were to small and would hang up once in awhile. The ones from Tightlines have a larger tube and work better in my opinon. The bomb in the picture is the smaller of the two they make. It is good for yellowfin. The bigger one 28oz. works GBT and swordfish. For swordfish, rig the bomb just below your light.

Mike, is right about circle hooks at times the line gets in the mouth.